Guides for 987

Love the videos, Ruslan. They show many trips and tricks, which we all can benefit from. Watching the video on the replacement of the taillight bulbs, and I just want to add that when I did some work on my taillights, I found that I could just remove the taillight ‘cassette‘ without removing the entire taillight assembly. The clip you showed which holds the ‘cassette’ to the lens assembly can be undone from inside the rear trunk, allowing the ‘cassette’ to be slid out from the interior, bulbs replaced, and snapped back into place without undoing the 8mm nuts and removing the entire taillight assembly. I learned this when I did a mod in which I repinned the passenger side taillight plug to enable the passenger side fog light to illuminate as well as the drivers side. In Europe, where many cars are equipped with a single rear fog, it is understood that seeing a single rear fog indicates the orientation of the vehicle, but in the US I believe it more often than not confuses other drivers, believing that you have a brake light or taillight out. Now, in low visibility conditions my car will be visible from the rear at a greater distance than having only the standard taillights illuminated, giving an earlier indication to other drivers of my placement on the road.

Added as Tip #1 in the guides Tip #1 in the pinned video comment(s)

August 14th, 2023 Sharing a tip on breaking suspension component nuts and bolts loose.

August 21st, 2023 Made this video while doing a Cayenne maintenance job (ATF Fluid) but also relevant to the Boxster transmission fluid, since the boxster manual transmission uses gear oil. Adding to the above guides under Transmission.

August 23rd, 2023 I'm making the head unit video. Incoming are videos on everything from footwell carpet trim to center console removal to rear camera installation. Speaking of footwells...

Nice! For my wife's Acura MDX, I actually had to cut (with an angle grinder) one of the bolts due to rusting. Tried various methods (a torch, impact wrenches - corded and cordless, power ratchet, etc.) starting with PB blaster 3-4 times a day, 5 days prior to working on the vehicle...those bolts / nuts are stubborn...you know what Have not tried a rethreading die which seems to be popular as well.

Love your espresso brown interior!!

August 24th, 2023 PSA When bleeding brakes, clean the bleeder valves afterwards. Definitely not speaking from experience. My boxster calipers are definitely not suffering the consequences of not doing this.

On the panel removal - I'm reasonably expert - I've had them off at least 20, probably closer to 30 times in the past few months while working on the radio project Outstanding Tech Contribution! - DIY on installing an... Tip 1 - Don't use power tools on the T27 bolt holding the carpeted panels in. It's a soft bolt and you will eventually strip out the Torx recess. Replacements are $10 each (might be cheaper at your dealer - mine likes to charge 130% on parts over OEM part prices from Porsche - just because they can.) I replaced them with some 10mm bolts while I waited for the new ones to arrive. The 10mm work just fine and I probably should have just left them in place since they easily unscrew with a 10mm nut-driver. Tip 2 - The receiver for those bolts - the U-shaped thing with the threaded hole in it always loosens up. You can snug it up easily by squeezing it gently at the folded part. It's easier to get the panel back on if it stays in place. Tip 3 - the three stab fasteners for the leatherette panels on the sides of the console. On the top stab - use end-cutting snippers to take the catch part of the stab off - removing the panels and replacing them will be 100% easier. The first one I sort of did by accident - the second one on purpose. The panel doesn't come loose, or rattle or squeak (even with the top one of the two 4mm panel screws - the PITA one to reinstall - left out. It's rather over-engineered. Tip 4 - The U-shaped plastic piece that fits into the groove in the leatherette panel where it clips onto the console frame can come loose. If it does - some thin 2-sided butyl tape (Gorilla Tape) holds it quite nicely. Might as well do both sides while you have the tape out. I can get both sides off now in about 3-4 minutes. It just takes practice. It's a clever design, but getting it off if you don't modify that top stab can be very frustrating, that stab doesn't like coming free.

What a terrific wealth of information. It’s so much good stuff that I’m tempted to recreate the video. Let me figure out a good way to integrate this into the YouTube video. Thank you PS I’m working on the head unit video now. Your thread was an immense inspiration and helped get over the “activation energy” of starting the project because the thread provided the documentation in an otherwise documentation-less world

Thanks much! I've been enjoying the progression of your videos - they eventually will become known as the source for info on the 987 series cars. Each one has become more professional and well edited. I love that you don't waste time like so many tech videos where the person doing the video starts out with "Hey guys!" followed by 5 minutes of useless drivel I had no need to know. You quickly explain what you're going to do - then you do it. Excellent! If you can make a tiny mention of my contributions in the video that would be a nice thing.

Quotes source post: 2218806

Hah! I have also inadvertantly done this to only one side panel and you are 100% correct, no squeeks or rattles...I am definitely doing this to the other side!! Great tip!

Consider it done.

September 24th, 2023 Done with the center console video. How to remove, how to install USB, how to re-install. Required for shift cable upgrades to Numeric, shifter work, parking brake mechanism work, etc. All part of the head unit effort. Head unit video will be over an hour long. Correction: After the shift boot is re-installed, re-install the leather panels, then the carpet panels. The steps are available at the start of the video. First the leather panels go back in the way they came out, then the carpet panels.

September 25th, 2023 Did I mention there will be many videos coming out of the head unit video? Because I wanted to let you know that there are going to be many videos coming out of the head unit video. Like this one. This one is how to remove and install the climate controls. Required if you are to replace worn temperature or worn fan control buttons that like to peel on the 987. Or if you're going to repaint the climate controls. Or if you're going to swap out the noisy fan on the back of the controls. This one is how to replace the button controls - i.e. the spoiler button, PSM button, and sports exhaust button (if you have it). Required if those buttons stop working and you need to replace the module. This one is how to replace the storage bin, or storage compartment in the front, however you call it. Helpful if yours is gross or damaged and you want to freshen up the interior. I removed the controls above it, instead of bending the poor tab at the top of the compartment like other guides suggest, in an act of mercy (and longevity-preservation) towards the storage compartment, so it doesn't get damaged over time. PSA: The rubber padding can be removed and replaced on its own. No need to buy the whole storage compartment.

Always enjoy your video. I also replaced those infamous sticky, worn temp / fan buttons as well as fixing CDR24 display. By the way, are you having that (yet another infamous) foam-coming-of-our-your-vents-issue, by any chance? I am starting to get more and more, and wondering about the fix. I was able to see the central vent (which we need to cut through) when I removed the HU but was not sure about how to remove those two center vents (not sure you need to remove the entire dashboard which I would like to avoid).

Glad to hear you got those sorted 🙏 It's funny you mention that. Yes, I do. It hasn't yet-impacted the cooling abilities significantly but it's a project I need to research and am keeping in the back of my mind to do as one of the next to-do items after the water pump and windshield cowl guides. Dash is already coming out for that guide as well on my end. I'll be sure to provide an update - it might be a few months. PS I am very averse to cutting a hole for the sake of ease of access. I would rather take the car apart! lol

While you've got the cowling off, that might be a good time to address the foam venting issue. I recently saw a video of a method that accessed and removed those (now foamless) vent doors by coming from above through the frunk with the cowling and battery removed. Only a minor surgical cut was needed to release the door hinge tower. It seemed that the biggest part of the effort was removing the cowling. Sorry I don't have a link handy.

September 27th, 2023 Added two videos - installing USB and removing a stuck head unit. Installing USB is self-explanatory so just adding it to the guides in case anyone needs it. Posting a link to the stuck head unit because that seems more pertinent (and personally I needed that tip quite a bit when doing the DIY)

Can we assume the clip retainers are headed for recycling once removed?

Let me know if you have any requests, topics, comments, or questions. General ​ General information Banks, Cylinder Numbers, Firing Order | Guide | Video | Emergency Hood Release | Dead Battery | Guide | Video | Convenience Reset MPG | Video | HomeLink | Programming Guide | Video | Jacking ​ Jack Points | Video | Getting it onto Four Jack Stands | Video | DIY Wooden Blocks | Video | Raise it high enough for engine or transmission replacement Made out of pressure-treated lumber Service Mode ​ Service Mode & Access Both Engine Compartments | Video | Underbody Panels | Video | Underbody Impact Zone | Video | Powertrain ​ Air Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement | Video | Throttle Body | Video | Tips Hose Won't Go Back On | Video | Issues Rough Idle Cause #1 | Dirty Throttle Body | Video | Brakes Hand Brake Adjustment / Calibration | Video | Lever Mechanism | Video | Pads Replacement Guide Uneven Wear | Cause 1 | Rusted Brake Hardware | Video | Uneven Wear | Cause 2 | Unflushed Brake Fluid | Video | Rotors Replacement Guide Sensors Tip | Sensors Won't Go Back In | Video | Tips Cleaning Bleeder Valves | Video | Stuck Brake Pads inside Caliper | Video | Stuck Wheel Spacers (How to remove) | Video | Cooling Procedures Fill & Bleed | Video | Flush | Video | Parts Coolant Cap | Video | Thermostat | Video | Water Pump | Video | Tips Stuck Quick Connect Hoses | Video | Leaks Cause #1 | Coolant Cap | Video | Electrical Alternator Pulley | Video | Battery Replacement | Video | White Powder | Leaking Battery | Video | Ignition Coils Replacement | Video | Spark Plugs Replacement | Video | Emissions Air Oil Separator Replacement | Video | Failure | Sounds / Symptoms | Video | Engine Engine Mount | Video | Oil Change | Video | Tip | Oil Change Maintenance Interval Reset | Video | Serpentine Belt | Video | Tip | What does each pulley do? | Video | Suspension Tips Break Stuck Nuts and Bolts Loose on Suspension Components | Video | Transmission Clutch | Video | Flywheel | Video | Pressure Plate | Video | Shift Cables | Video || Advice | Tip 1 | Calibrate Cables | Video | Tip 2 | Easy Removal | Video | Tip 3 | Recovering from Broken Shift Cables | Video | Shifter | Video | Transmission Removal and Installation | Video | Tools DIY Gear Oil Pump | Video | Body ​ Bumper(s) Front Bumper | COMING SOON | Rear Bumper | Video | Center Console Button Controls | Video | Center Console | Video | Climate Controls | Video | Shift Boot / Shift Knob | Video | Shift Boot / Shift Knob (Disassembly) | Video | Storage Compartment | Video | Tips Stuck Shift Knob | Video | Stuck Wiring Connector for Center Console | Video | Removed Center Console w/o Disconnecting Battery | Reset Airbag Light | Video | Upgrades DIY Cupholder | Thread | USB Installation | Video | Convertible Top (Boxster) Ball Joints | Roof Won't Open | Video | Color Restoration | Video | Elastic Fix | Cords Stick Out | Thread | Wind Deflector | Thread | Dashboard Headlight Switch Replacement | Video | Trim Removal | Video | Ignition Switch Replacement | Video | Trim Removal | Video | Tip | Key Stuck in Ignition | Video | Lower A-Pillar Trim Replacement | Video | Lower Dashboard Trim Replacement | Video | Tips Fitting under the front dashboard | Video | Doors Door Latch Strike Plate | Video | Sagging Doors | Video | Front Trunk Bent Hood | Video | Firewall Grommet (Driver's Side) | Video | Struts | Video | Sticking Front Trunk | Video | Footwells Carpet Trim | Video | Leather Panels | Video | Head Unit Antennas (GPS, LTE) | Video | Head Unit | Video | Remove Navigation DVD Reader | Video | Analysis Is It Worth It? | Video | Tips Broken Fiber Optic Connector | Video | Find 12V, Ground, Ignition | Video | T Tap Connectors | Video | Stuck Head Unit Connectors | Video | Stuck Head Unit Removal | Video | Soldering Mistake to Avoid #1 | Video | Headlights Removal & Installation | Video | Restoration | Video | Tips Spray-on vs. Wipe-on UV Clear | Video | Rear Camera Rear Camera | Video | Rear Trunk Strut | Video | Seats Seat | Removal and Installation | Video | Spoiler Spoiler | Video | Taillights Tail Lights | Video | Tail Light Bulbs | Video | Tip #1: Easier Replacement | Wheels Center Caps | Video | Front Wheel Well Liners | Video | Windshield Cowl | Video | Washer Fluid Pump | Video | Washer Nozzles | Video | Wiper Arms | Video | Issues Puddle of Washer Fluid | Video |

Ruslan, first I want to give you props for your video guides. I have only so far had the chance to skim through a few, but what I have seen so far is impressive. Very informative, easy to follow and well put together. The idea to put something like this together alone is such a boon to all of us DIY’ers, and half of the battle is searching many sources of information to get the info one needs. Looking forward to diving deeper into the existing vids and future ones. Thank you, and Good Luck with this project.

Added a few Planet-9 threads made by @XuTVJet , @deilenberger , and @ShortShorts . Re-organized the layout a bit - please let me know if it can be improved. Planning on creating a diagnostics thread as well to help with identifying sounds. Definitely not for selfish reasons - definitely wouldn't have helped with my AOS failure sound : P

you rock for doing this! Thanks!

Monday, April 3rd, 2023 Completed and published a guide for addressing a common failure associated with the convertible top - ball joints snapping. Definitely didn't do this one out of self interest and necessity : P Added to the guides list above. Let me know if you have any guide recommendations for me to add above please.

I added a comment to the YouTube video on YouTube - it didn't appear or didn't take or something. A contributing cause for this failure can be the roof edges not being pulled down into the roof/window frame when the top is closed. That puts LOTS of extra stress on the entire mechanism, and as these are the first designed failure point - they're going to go first. If anyone hears any popping, or their top doesn't fully close so the rubber on the front edge is 1/8" or so from the windshield header - it's time to check the edge of the top is tucking correctly into the frame - both sides. Mine wasn't on the passenger side all the time, but I didn't notice it since I rarely go around that side of the car (except when washing it or something, seems like I should have noticed it - butttt - I'm old.. so..) Happily - we have a DIY for this issue: Outstanding Tech Contribution! - 987 Boxster - Roof... Hey - who wrote that?

Completed the following spark plug , coil pack guide and added to the list. Please, keep the recommended guides to add above coming!

Boxster started violently misfiring above 4K rpms and wouldn't go past that. Turns out it was a dirty MAF sensor after a failed AOS . Cleaned that, made a guide, the rest is history. Enjoy. Added to the above guides. Let me know if there are guides you'd like to see added either from me or other Planet-9'ers!

June 11th, 2023 Got a lil' artistic with this one. EDIT: Redacted due to a missing (safety) step. It was a battery video.

Nice but you forgot to install the gas vent tube. That can be dangerous .

Thank you for pointing that out. I've redacted the video and will update / re-post to not spread misinformation.

Fixed. June 12, 2023- Uploaded edited version of the battery video thanks to @RSchwerer looking out for his fellow man

June 20th, 2023 Two for one today. Was a nice little side project while taking the spoiler and bumper off. Guides coming for those soon.

Looking forward to the bumper skin removal video. I need to remove and repaint my scuffed bumperettes. I know they can be removed other ways but it seems better to do it with the bumper skin removed. I might make it my winter project.

June 23rd, 2023 Did the shift boot and knob videos in the process of removing the center console (and because I remembered I needed to take the shift knob apart when mine got stuck. and it'd be helpful for detailing) @RSchwerer the spoiler and bumper videos are next had to do a lot of filming these past few days in the process of the rear camera and head unit installed (thanks to the one and only @deilenberger 's guide here on P9) working through all the content. the new headunit is awesome + rear camera Shift Knob, Shift Boot Removal Shift Knob Disassembly

June 29th, 2023 Happy almost Pay Day! In honor of getting paid here is a spoiler replacement video. The hardest / most "challenging" part is re-alignment and the plastic clips - taking the clips off without damaging the spoiler.

July 4th, 2023 Edited the bumper video. Happy America Day! 🇺🇸

I know the obsession of hanging onto useless pieces. I sold my motorcycle a few weeks ago, and I'm going through the boxes of spare and old parts that I have for it.. selling off the spares hopefully. I'm doubtful if anyone wants my box of an even dozen used sparkplugs for it.. And thanks for the credits. I'm really looking forward to that video!